Rebecca Bielat, Fuld Fellow (ABS Program)

• Program: ABS Nursing
• Hometown: Buffalo, NY
• Favorite Self-Care Activity: I like to spend my free time with my family. One of the things we love doing together is camping.  We try to go camping a few times a year. 
• Previous Education: 
  • Bachelor of Arts, Special Education; Bachelor of Arts, Childhood Education, Canisius College
  • Masters, Literacy Specialist, Medaille College

I absolutely loved my job as a teacher; however, I always knew something was missing. Every time I walked into a hospital, I had a feeling like I belonged there. After giving birth, I realized just how important nurses were in the whole process. I fell in love with the idea of becoming a nurse and decided it was time to pursue my dream.

I chose UB because of it’s wonderful reputation. I also appreciated the fact that I could get a bachelors degree in only one year. Being a busy mom, I didn’t want to spend several years getting a degree. 

I am most interested in labor and delivery or mother/baby. After having my own kids I realized how important the nurses were in my birthing process. They showed compassion when I was in pain and held my hand when I was scared. I appreciated their help while they taught me how to nurse my children. I love being a mom and want to be a part of welcoming new moms into this adventure.

Most of my extracurricular activities revolve around my children. I am a dance, baseball and soccer mom. When I’m not in school, I am running my children around to their various practices and competitions. I also volunteer at their school as often as possible. I have volunteered as a “cuddler” at Mercy Hospital and hope to continue this during the fall.

After graduation I would like to get a job working in either the mother/baby unit or labor and delivery unit at a local hospital.

As a one income family with three young children, the financial burden was a great stressor. This scholarship will help to ease that burden immensely and allow me to focus more on my studies rather than how I will pay for my schooling.